RBS provides additional support to customers across Scotland

Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) has listened and engaged with customers, communities and elected representatives from all parties and will now keep ten branches open until the end of 2018 and provide an additional support package for customers across Scotland.

At the end of the year an independent review will be carried out into the use of these branches and whether they should be kept open or not. The vast majority of these branches are in communities where there is no other Royal Bank branch within a nine mile radius.

As part of the package of support RBS will look to open new branches across Scotland, improve ATM accessibility for all communities affected by the closures, review opening hours of remaining branches, and work with communities to give empty branches to local community groups for free.

The total package includes:
1. RBS will keep ten branches open until the end of 2018.
2. Where RBS owns the building and where there is no demand for a building, the bank will work with development trusts and local communities to transfer ownership of a building to a community for free if there is a viable and deliverable three-year business case.
3. In response to concerns over digital access RBS will work with a small number of communities across Scotland to support the digital adoption of contactless terminals for local RBS business customers and will seek to offer free initial contracts.
4. On access to ATMs, RBS will ensure it does not remove, or will replace at a suitable nearby location, the branch ATM if there is no other free-to-use ATM within 1km of the closing branch.
5. RBS will undertake a review of the opening hours of all receiving branches to ensure that, where there is reasonable demand, they are open at appropriate times.
6. RBS will continue to invest in its remaining branch network and look to open branches across Scotland where it is convenient for customers and where it makes viable business sense.
7. In order to further support the Post Office, RBS will work with the Post Office to share its fraud and scams training with their franchisees.
8. RBS will review Mobile Van routes and times on a monthly basis and be open to suggestions of change from local communities or community representatives.
9. As planned RBS will continue to implement its strategy of providing all areas affected by branch closures with alternative ways to bank.

Jane Howard, Managing Director for Personal Banking, said: “We are committed to ensuring our customers and communities are able to continue accessing quality banking services. Having listened to the concerns of customers, communities and elected representatives from all political parties we have decided to keep ten branches open until the end of 2018.

“During this period we will monitor the level of transactions and new income at each branch and if there is a sustained and viable increase in both then we will reconsider the closure of the relevant branch as part of a full independent review. We’ll continue to invest in our branch network and services across Scotland.